Grizzlies swingman Quincy Pondexter will be OK for playoffs

MRI reveals sprained left knee

An MRI on Tuesday morning revealed that Grizzlies guard Quincy Pondexter only suffered a left knee sprain in Monday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Injuries have been a major part of the Grizzlies season.

Overcoming them has come to define their success.

So perhaps it should come as no surprise that swingman Quincy Pondexter will indeed be available for the playoffs after a medical evaluation determined he has a left knee sprain.

Pondexter, who left the Grizzlies' win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, had magnetic resonance imaging test performed on his left knee early Tuesday. The results were negative and Pondexter is listed as day-to-day.

"Thank God," Pondexter wrote on his Twitter page after learning of the test results.

The Grizzlies coaching staff also breathed a sigh of relief.

Pondexter has emerged as one of the team's most reliable perimeter defenders. The swingman is Rudy Gay's primary backup at small forward and has filled in admirably at shooting guard in Tony Allen's absence.

"Plus, Q gives us good rebounding when we play small," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "He rebounds against smaller guys like he's the bigger guy."

Pondexter fell to the floor clutching his left knee with 7:58 left in the second quarter of the Cavs game. He didn't return to the game but tweeted after the game, "Don't worry. I'll be fine in no time. Just have to make sure everything is OK in the morning."

A sprained knee is an injury to a knee ligament and is caused by twisting the knee in the wrong way, hitting the knee against something and a fall. Treatment includes rest, ice, compress and elevation.